Calient Networks debuts new fiber-optic cross-connection system

OCTOBER 3, 2006 -- Calient Networks has introduced a new fiber-optic cross-connection system (FOCS) platform, dubbed the DiamondWave FiberConnect. The company claims the carrier-class FOCS provides an unprecedented range of critical fiber operations functions for any size fiber plant at the same or better cost, reliability, and ease of use as the present mode of operation using manual patch panels.

"As service providers face a deluge of new fiber deployments, they fully understand that static patch-panels, manual testing, and truck-based fault isolation in the fiber plant are costly and do not scale well," explains Charles Corbalis, CEO and president of Calient Networks. "The problem they face is that previous systems for controlling fiber remotely via software have been prohibitively expensive compared to the static patch panel solutions. This has now changed," he contends. "Our FiberConnect product is priced an order of magnitude lower than previously available FOCS solutions and gives operators the ability to monitor, troubleshoot, and rearrange the fiber plant remotely from the Network Operations Center. Service providers can now cost-effectively modernize their outmoded fiber management operations and take hands out of the fiber plant."

The DiamondWave FiberConnect solution is targeted at any carrier deploying large amounts of new fiber, from FTTx, video, and wireless backhaul builds to data center and metro fiber rollouts. It has application for RBOCs, IOCs, CLECs and MSOs, community networks, wireless backhaul operators, data centers, test laboratories, and a host of fiber-rich private network facilities, say company representatives. FiberConnect streamlines and centralizes network operations by enabling:

• Rapid, remote test and installation verification of fiber for new services, in 1/10th the normal time;
• Certification of construction, separating fiber construction from service provisioning;
• Automated fiber records management and real-time inventory;
• Automated tap and test;
• Optical layer protection and/or restoration;
• Automated network testing;
• Lights-out, remote site operation;
• Instant fiber reconfiguration; and
• Automated optical power monitoring and alarming.

"Because triple-play customers are intolerant of network problems, FTTH operators will need new procedures such as remote, automated troubleshooting and fault isolation," adds Michael Lebby, president of the Optoelectronics Industry Development Association. "At the same time, these FTTH deployments will result in vastly greater quantities of fiber terminations to be managed in the carriers' equipment locations, resulting in new operations challenges for network. New technology, such as Calient's automated fiber-optic cross-connection system, can streamline testing and network management operations and help fiber-based carriers compete for broadband customers." he notes.

FiberConnect is available at cost levels closely comparable to what carriers spend to deploy and operate manual patch panels, report Calient representatives. Because fiber-centric deployments are growing at 30% per year, operators clearly face a drastic change in their operations environment.

FiberConnect streamlines fiber management operations in many applications:

• PON: Reduces fiber installation, test and verification time, and costs; performs remote fault isolation; enables immediate restoration of service around faults; simplifies field technician training; and grooms among mixed PON types in a service area.

• Point-to-point access networks: Reduces truck rolls; enables precise technician dispatch when trouble is found; extends Network Operations Center expertise to fault site; enables diagnostic monitoring to pro-actively detect signal degradation; enables IP service monitoring to detect worms and viruses.

• Central office applications: Enables "lights dimmed" or "lights out" operation at remote offices; enables managed and verified demarcation point between networks or sub-networks; reduces fiber reconfiguration errors; increases reconfigured connection quality by reducing fiber handling problems.

• Data centers: Provides reconfigurable interconnections between servers, routers, and outside connections without the need for manual reconfiguration; eliminates fiber connector contamination problems; provides demarcation between sub-networks.

• Wireless backhaul: Provides intelligent management of rapidly growing fiber concentrations; grooms connections as services migrate from 2G to 3G to 4G; remotely and rapidly isolates faults, leading to higher service uptime.

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